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Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithmMethods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithm description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089948, Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithm. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of linking related data sources, such as metadata sources, which may be associated with media content, located in multiple sources. In particular, embodiments of this invention relate to formatting items of data of metadata sources according to attributes, executing a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes for generating a score for combinations of data comprising an item of data from differing data sources, and identifying related items of data of the differing data sources based upon the generated scores. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to linking related data sources, in particular those data sources comprising metadata, although linking data sources of any type is contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention. Generally, metadata is defined as data about data. Metadata commonly describes a tangible thing, such as a movie, or motion picture, an audio compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a theatrical performance, or a concert, to name a few. Metadata sources often comprise multiple items of data. For example, a movie data source, such as a database, may include data describing multiple movies. The collection of information about a particular movie in the data source comprises a separate item of data. Moreover, each of these items of data representing a movie may then be divided into a common set of distinct attributes. Each of these attributes describes a particular feature of the data item, or movie. For a movie data source, of which there may be several, attributes might include movie title, release year, director, running time, and cast, among others. For a data source containing theaters showing movies, attributes might include theater name, address, city, state, and zip code, among others. These common attributes of any one data source typically apply to each of the data items contained in the source. [0003] Conventional search algorithms use sophisticated searching techniques to find relevant metadata about a particular tangible thing, such as a movie. Although the searching methods are computationally sophisticated, such searching methods are prone to error because they often rely upon insufficient data, which may be mistakenly assumed to be correct. Moreover, such techniques require a great deal of processing capacity, which increases the cost of locating information and the time required to locate such information. [0004] Such techniques are particularly prone to errors and subject to unreasonable processing costs and delay where metadata is located in several data sources. Accordingly, a solution that effectively uses simpler computational methods to match data items of multiple data sources by linking the information of the data sources together is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] Embodiments of the invention overcome one or more deficiencies in the prior art by providing, among other things, identification of common data items among many data sources, thereby leading to a more comprehensive, and ultimately correct, picture of the data sought to be understood. The methods or systems of the present invention utilize as many identifiable attributes of the data sources as possible, thereby minimizing reliance upon any single piece of potentially erroneous data. One or more of the attributes of the metadata in a given data source may be matched, or interlinked, to the corresponding attributes of one or more other data sources. The interlinking of many attributes of several data sources differentiates such a process from conventional search algorithms, in that such interlinking uses simpler computational methods, requiring less computing power and time, yet including as many attributes as can be identified to increase precision in making a match by reducing the reliance on any one piece of potentially erroneous data to support a match. Thus, with each additional attribute identified and utilized in comparing the data sources, match quality increases. This way, computationally quick and simple algorithms may yield high quality results with relatively little processing, compared to the traditional searching algorithms. Moreover, by matching data items of one data source with related data items of other data sources, the overall amount of metadata available to a user regarding each data item increases, effectively linking the information of two or more data sources together. [0006] Accordingly, a method (or a computer-readable media or a system) for linking related data from at least two data sources--the method comprising formatting items of data of a first data source according to attributes; formatting items of data of a second data source according to the attributes; executing a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes for generating a score for combinations of data comprising an item of data from the first data source and an item of data from the second data source; and identifying related items of data of the first and second data sources based upon the generated scores--is desired to address one or more of these and other disadvantages. For example, such a method may be well-suited for merging metadata databases or data streams relating to motion pictures or music, generally as set forth above. [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method for linking related data from at least two data sources comprises formatting items of data of a first data source according to attributes and formatting items of data of a second data source according to the attributes. The method further comprises executing a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes to generate a score for one or more sets of the formatted items of data. Each of the sets comprise an item of data from the first data source and an item of data from the second data source. The method further comprises identifying related items of data of the first and second data sources based upon the generated scores. [0008] In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, one or more computer-readable media have computer-executable components for linking related data from at least two sources of data. The components comprise an attribute component for formatting items of data of a first data source according to a plurality of predetermined attributes. The attribute component further formats items of data of a second data source according to the attributes. The components also comprise an engine component for executing a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes for generating a score for sets of data. The sets of data each comprise an item of data of the first data source formatted by the attribute component and an item of data from the second data source formatted by the attribute component. The components also comprise a filter component identifying related items of data formatted by the attribute component based upon the scores generated by the engine component. [0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for linking related data from at least two sources of data comprises a first data feed, a second data feed, and a processor for receiving the first and second data feeds. The processor is configured to format items of data of the first data feed according to attributes and format items of data of the second data feed according to the attributes. The processor is also configured to execute a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes to generate a score for one or more sets of the formatted items of data. Each of the sets comprises an item of data from the first data feed and an item of data from the second data feed. The processor is also configured to identify related items of data of the first and second data feeds based upon the generated scores. [0010] In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method for establishing a link between related metadata from at least two sources of metadata, the metadata including property data associated with a media file accessible by a client, comprises formatting items of data of a first metadata source according to attributes and formatting items of data of a second metadata source according to the attributes. The method further comprises executing a scoring algorithm identifying related items of data generally as set forth above. The method also establishes at least one link between data items of the first metadata source related to data items of the second metadata source identified as being related and generates a user interface displaying the established link. [0011] Alternatively, the invention may comprise various other methods and apparatuses. [0012] Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a generic arrangement of two data sources comprising data items with multiple attributes; [0014] FIG. 2 is an exemplary arrangement of two data sources comprising data items with multiple attributes; [0015] FIG. 3 is an exemplary scoring table depicting the scoring of potentially related data items from the two data sources of FIG. 2; [0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a computer-readable media (CRM) of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a system of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a suitable computing system environment in which the invention may be implemented. [0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithm... 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